NerdClean

How to Get Blood Out of Clothes, Including Dried and Old Blood Stains

Updated June 2026

The short answer

Blood is a protein stain. Heat causes the proteins to coagulate and permanently bond to fabric. Use cold water only at every stage. For fresh blood, flush the stain immediately from the back of the fabric under cold running water. For dried or old blood, soak in cold water for 30–60 minutes first to rehydrate the stain before applying any cleaner. Dish soap, enzyme cleaner, or enzyme detergent are good first treatments. Hydrogen peroxide can help on white or light fabrics but may lighten dark or colored fabrics. Test on a hidden seam before using it. Do not put the clothing in the dryer until the stain is fully out. Heat permanently sets blood that is not completely removed.

Before you start

You need: cold water, dish soap, laundry detergent, enzyme cleaner or enzyme detergent, clean white cloth or towel, soft brush or old toothbrush. Optional: oxygen bleach (for white or colorfast washable fabrics), 3% hydrogen peroxide (for white or light fabrics, after testing).

Check the care label first. Dry-clean only, silk, wool, acetate, triacetate, and delicate or expensive items are safer with a professional cleaner. Do not wet-treat them at home.

If you plan to use hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach, test on a hidden seam first. Dab a small amount on an inner hem, wait 5 minutes, and check that the color does not change or transfer before treating the visible stain.

Do not use hot water at any stage. Hot water coagulates the proteins in blood and bonds them permanently to fabric.

Choose your blood stain situation

Fresh blood:

Flush from the back with cold running water right away. The sooner you act, the better. Fresh blood has not yet set into the fibers.

Dried blood:

Soak the stained area in cold water for 30–60 minutes to rehydrate the blood before applying any cleaner. Do not skip the soak.

Old blood stain:

Cold soak for an hour or longer, then treat with enzyme cleaner. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing cold. Older stains may need two or three treatment cycles.

Blood after washing (not yet dried):

The stain has not been heat-set. Soak in cold water, treat with enzyme cleaner, and wash cold again before checking.

Blood after the dryer:

Heat from the dryer sets the proteins, which makes full removal significantly harder. Try an enzyme cleaner soak followed by oxygen bleach on washable colorfast fabric, but expect partial results.

White or light clothing:

Dish soap or enzyme cleaner first. If discoloration remains after washing, 3% hydrogen peroxide can help. Test on a hidden seam before using it and rinse cold right after it bubbles.

Colored or black clothing:

Use dish soap or enzyme cleaner. Avoid hydrogen peroxide unless tested. It can lift dye on dark fabrics. Oxygen bleach is the safer escalation for most colorfast fabrics.

Jeans or sturdy cotton:

Cold soak with enzyme cleaner, then use a soft brush to work the cleaner gently into the weave. Denim can trap dried blood, so a second treatment cycle is common.

Period or menstrual blood:

Treat the same way as any blood stain: cold water first, enzyme cleaner, cold wash. Period blood responds well to enzyme cleaners because it is a protein stain like any other blood.

Steps

For fresh blood:

  1. 1Act immediately. Hold the back of the fabric under cold running water so the water pushes blood out through the front, not deeper into the fibers.
  2. 2Blot, do not rub. If you cannot rinse right away, blot gently with a clean white cloth to lift what you can before it sets.
  3. 3Apply dish soap or enzyme cleaner directly to the stain. Work it gently from the outside edges inward.
  4. 4Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
  5. 5Wash on a cold cycle following the care label.
  6. 6Check the stain while still damp. If it is still visible, repeat steps 3–5 before drying. Heat permanently sets blood.

For dried or old blood stains:

  1. 1Soak in cold water for 30–60 minutes. Add a small amount of dish soap or enzyme cleaner to the soak water. Older stains may need an hour or longer.
  2. 2Work enzyme cleaner into the stain with your fingers or a soft brush using gentle circular strokes from the outer edges inward.
  3. 3Let the enzyme cleaner sit for 20–30 minutes before rinsing.
  4. 4Rinse cold, then wash on a cold cycle.
  5. 5Check while still damp. Repeat the soak-and-treat cycle if the stain is still visible. Old blood often needs two or three treatment rounds.

For white or light clothes:

  1. 1Start with dish soap or enzyme cleaner using the steps above.
  2. 2If discoloration remains after washing, try 3% hydrogen peroxide (drugstore grade). Test on a hidden inner seam first: apply a small amount, wait 5 minutes, and check for color change before treating the stain.
  3. 3Apply peroxide to the stain and wait until it stops bubbling, then rinse immediately with cold water.
  4. 4For persistent marks, dissolve oxygen bleach in cold water and soak per the product label. Check the care label. Oxygen bleach is safe for most washable colorfast fabrics but not silk or wool.

For colored or black clothes:

  1. 1Use dish soap or enzyme cleaner. Do not use hydrogen peroxide as a first step. It can strip dye from dark fabrics.
  2. 2If discoloration remains, test oxygen bleach on a hidden seam before applying to the visible stain.
  3. 3Rinse cold and let the item air dry before deciding if more treatment is needed. Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is confirmed out.

For jeans or sturdy cotton:

  1. 1Cold soak for 30–60 minutes with enzyme cleaner dissolved in the water.
  2. 2Use a soft brush (a soft-bristle toothbrush works well) to work the cleaner gently into the fabric weave after soaking.
  3. 3Rinse cold, then wash on a cold cycle.
  4. 4Check while damp and repeat if needed. Denim weave can trap dried blood, and a second treatment is common.

What not to do

  • Do not use hot water at any stage. Heat coagulates the proteins in blood and permanently bonds them to fabric fibers.
  • Do not put the clothing in the dryer until the stain is confirmed out. Check while the item is still damp.
  • Do not scrub aggressively. Scrubbing can spread the stain and damage fabric fibers.
  • Do not start with hydrogen peroxide on dark or colored clothing. It can strip dye before you have a chance to stop it.
  • Do not use chlorine bleach on colored clothing. It removes the dye along with the stain.
  • Do not mix cleaning products. Combining products can create fumes or reduce effectiveness.
  • Do not assume an old or dried blood stain is impossible to remove, but be aware that stains set by the dryer may not come out completely.

Helpful supplies

Cold water is the foundation of blood stain treatment. It dilutes fresh blood and rehydrates dried blood without bonding the proteins to fabric.

Dish soap works as a first treatment on fresh blood. It breaks down the surface of the stain but is less effective than enzyme cleaner on dried or set blood.

Enzyme cleaner or enzyme detergent is the most effective option for blood. Blood is a protein stain, and protease enzymes specifically break down protein chains rather than just diluting them. This makes enzyme cleaner more effective than dish soap on dried or older blood.

Oxygen bleach dissolved in cold water can remove remaining discoloration on white or colorfast washable fabrics after the initial treatment. Test on a hidden area first. It is not effective in hot water and does not disinfect.

Hydrogen peroxide (3% drugstore grade) can help lift remaining discoloration on white or light fabrics. It works by oxidizing blood proteins. Test first. Hydrogen peroxide can affect dye on dark or colored fabrics.

Vinegar, salt, and baking soda are sometimes suggested for blood stains. They may help slightly with very fresh blood by dilution but are not as effective as enzyme cleaner and are not the recommended primary treatment.

A clean white towel or cloth is important for blotting. White fabric lets you see what is lifting and prevents dye transfer from the cloth to your garment.

Frequently asked questions

Does hydrogen peroxide remove blood from clothing?

3% hydrogen peroxide (drugstore grade) can help on white or light-colored fabrics. It works by oxidizing blood proteins. Test on a hidden area first: pour a small amount on an inner seam, wait 5 minutes, and check whether the fabric color changes or fades. If unchanged, apply to the stain and rinse cold. Do not use on silk, wool, or dark-colored fabrics without testing.

Can you remove dried blood from clothing?

Yes, but it requires more work. Soak the stained area in cold water for 30–60 minutes to rehydrate the dried blood, then apply enzyme cleaner or dish soap and work it in gently. Rinse cold and repeat if needed. Blood that has been through the dryer is significantly harder to remove. Heat permanently bonds the proteins to fabric.

Can blood stains be removed from clothes?

Yes, in most cases. Fresh blood treated with cold water and enzyme cleaner or dish soap usually comes out with one or two wash cycles. Dried blood takes more effort (a cold soak before treating) but often responds well to enzyme cleaner. Old blood that has been set by the dryer is harder and may not come out completely, but it is worth trying an enzyme soak followed by oxygen bleach before giving up.

How do you remove old blood stains from clothes?

Soak the stained area in cold water for an hour or longer to soften the dried blood as much as possible. Apply enzyme cleaner directly to the stain, work it in gently, and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing cold. Wash on a cold cycle and check while still damp. Repeat the process if the stain is still visible. Old blood often needs two or three cycles. If the stain was set by the dryer, full removal is less likely but still worth attempting.

How do you get blood out of a white shirt?

Start with cold water and enzyme cleaner or dish soap, the same as any blood stain. If discoloration remains after washing, 3% hydrogen peroxide (drugstore grade) can help on white fabric: apply it, wait until it stops bubbling, then rinse cold. Oxygen bleach dissolved in cold water is another option for persistent marks on white cotton. Test both on a hidden seam before applying to the visible stain, and do not use hot water at any stage.

How do you get blood out of colored or black clothes?

Use cold water and enzyme cleaner or dish soap, the same process as with any blood stain. Avoid hydrogen peroxide on dark or colored fabrics; it can strip dye before you can stop it. If discoloration remains after washing, test oxygen bleach on a hidden inner seam before applying it to the stain. Rinse cold, air dry, and check before putting the item in the dryer.

How do you get blood out of jeans?

Cold soak for 30–60 minutes with enzyme cleaner dissolved in the water, then use a soft brush (a soft-bristle toothbrush works well) to work the cleaner gently into the denim weave. Rinse cold and wash on a cold cycle. Denim weave can trap dried blood, so check while still damp and repeat if needed. Do not use the dryer until the stain is gone. Avoid hydrogen peroxide on dark denim unless you have tested it first.

Does vinegar remove blood stains from clothes?

Vinegar is sometimes suggested for blood stains, but it is not the most effective option. It may help dilute very fresh blood slightly, but enzyme cleaner and dish soap work better because they target the protein structure of the stain. If enzyme cleaner is not available, dish soap with cold water is a better first choice than vinegar.

Can you get blood out of clothes after they went through the dryer?

It is harder, but sometimes possible. Heat from the dryer bonds the blood proteins to fabric, which makes the stain more resistant to treatment. Try soaking in cold water with enzyme cleaner for an hour or longer, then applying more enzyme cleaner and letting it sit before washing cold. Oxygen bleach on washable colorfast fabric can help with remaining discoloration. Full removal is not guaranteed. Results depend on the fabric, how much heat was applied, and how many cycles the item went through.

Not sure whether the blood stain is fresh, dried, old, or safe to treat on your fabric? Use the Stain Rescue Tool to get a step-by-step plan based on your fabric and the supplies you have at home.

Use the Stain Rescue Tool

Related guides

How to Get Blood Out of Sheets

Oxygen Bleach: How It Works and When It Makes Sense

What Is an Enzyme Cleaner?

Oxygen Bleach vs Chlorine Bleach: How to Choose

How to Get Blood Out of Carpet

How to Get Blood Out of a Couch

Research sources (8)

These sources inform the stain chemistry and material-safety principles used in this guide. Some research supports the underlying mechanism rather than testing the complete household method.